Life as an athlete has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster these last few weeks.
It's been 6 weeks since I first noticed a slight twinge in my foot. This escalated into plantar fasciitis, and it's been a race against time to get it all sorted out and get back on track with my training for the Erie Marathon.
Mountain Life
Everyday in these six weeks has consisted of (except the one total week of rest I took from running):
1. How will I feel during my run today?
2. How long will the pain last? (The pattern had been that it would hurt at the beginning of the run and then subside about a mile/mile and a half into the run. The duration of the run would be pain free and I kept the pace slow. Some days I was able to get the pace up to a normal easy pace which was a huge win. Note: I got the ok from my doctor to run).
3. How will tomorrow's run feel?
4. How many more weeks left until the marathon?
I received my custom orthotics and I LOVE them. They are soft, comfortable and wonderful. My doctor and I were hoping (I have had them for one week now) that this would be the answer to the problem.
I had some great runs last week and on Sunday I ran 8 miles. 8 miles! The first longish run since Memorial Day weekend. It was slow, but pain free and I felt great. I was grinning from ear to ear when I walked in the door with Jerold high fiving me and for the first time in a while feeling like we had found a solution.
Happy feet - eventually
Monday of this week I went for a run and felt horrible. UGH. The pain was back. Tuesday I tried again and basically shuffled my way through it until I knew I had to call it a day.
This was not fun.
It hurt pretty badly.
All I could feel was frustration. I knew that my training in these last 8-9 months had been gentle and careful easing into hills, speed and higher milege. We had taken the conservative route and I walked away from Boston feeling like I was in awesome shape and ready to use that base to work toward a serious break though marathon.
I still feel that way, but this is more than a hiccup. With 11 weeks left until the Erie Marathon, I woke up this morning and knew it would be a struggle to make it to the starting line. I mean, yeah - I could make it to the starting line, but I wouldn't be ready to race the marathon I know in my heart I can race. It wouldn't be fun to fly across the country to stand on the starting line knowing I wasn't ready.
Coach and I decided today that I will not be running Erie in September.
Weight lifted.
You gotta know when to hold 'em.
Know when to fold 'm
Know when to walk away,
And know when to run...
Now, we can keep pushing to get this foot healed and start the process of seriously running again.
With that said, I am not giving up on a fall marathon - so, what to do?
I am super excited to say that I will be running the CIM Marathon on Sunday December 4th!!
This race has been on my bucket list for such a long time - I signed up for it when Josh was a baby as a comeback from pregnancy marathon. Ultimately I didn't run it - I guess I lost the fire to train for a marathon for a while and got wrapped up in being a first time new Mom.
Anyway, I really feel like this is my time. 24 weeks to heal, build, gain my speed back and then start to train for CIM.
I feel like I can take a deep breath and I don't need that paper bag anymore :)
Here are my workouts for the last 2 weeks (I have also been doing the Iron Strength workout from Runner's World, swimming, staying on top of my PT exercises and dynamic stretching + my go to yoga poses.)
June 13 - 19th - 18 miles (3 days of 4 miles, 2 days of 3 miles)
June 20th - 26th - 28 miles (4 miles every day + 8 miles on Sunday)
Stay tuned...
Happiness Is Running Life.
xo,
Natalie
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